John Selden

A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

John Selden

A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Description

Professor Toomer's book is not only an indispensable reference work but also provides the first thorough treatment of the scholarship of John Selden, acknowledged as the most learned man of 17th-century England. All of his numerous published works, especially in the fields of history, law, and Hebraica, are critically examined and described in detail. The narrative also relates his writings to contemporary events, in the Civil War and the parliaments (including the Long Parliament) in which he played a prominent part, and to the work of other scholars in Europe (notably Scaliger and Grotius) and in Britain (including Camden and Ussher). Selden's involvement with the Universities, the support of libraries, and the promotion of scholarship is discussed. The work will
be an essential resource, not only for the life of a major figure of his time, but also for the intellectual history of 17th-century England in general.

John Selden

A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Table of Contents

1. Early Years: Education2. The Inner Temple and Literary London3. The Resources for Scholarship in the Early 17th CenturyClassical and Medieval TextsAncient inscriptionsNumismaticsLegal texts and treatisesHebrew and other non-European textsLibrariesAcquisition of books and manuscriptsArchivesForgeries and RomancesThe Bible as a historical authorityChronologyEtymologies4. Early WorksAnalecta AnglobritannicaJanus AnglorumEngland's EpinomisDuelloIllustrations to Poly-OlbionCritique to the early works5. 'Antiquarian' WritingsTitles of Honor 1614Titles of Honor 1631Of the Iewes
sometimes living in EnglandLetter to Vincent6. Writings on English Legal HistoryFortescueHenghamOriginal of Testaments and Intestates GoodsDissertatio ad Fletam7. De Diis SyrisDS 1617The reception of De Diis SyrisDS 1629Critiques of De Diis Syris8. The Historie of TithesTithes and 'divine right'Why did Selden write Historie of Tithes?Composition of Historie of TithesSignificance of the titlePublication of the bookThe PrefaceTithes in the Old TestamentTithes among the GentilesHistory of tithes among Christians generallyHistory of tithes in EnglandThe ReviewCritique of Historie of
TithesThe aftermath9. The Social and Political Background to Selden's Later WorkPatrons, friends and acquaintancesThe Virginia CompanyParliamentsImprisonment and bail10. Works on English Medieval HistoryEadmerMatthew Paris (1640)Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores11. Marmora ArundellianaThe inscriptionsThe editionCritique of Marmora Arundelliana12. Mare ClausumOrigin and publication of the bookBook IBook IICritiques and reception of Mare Clausum13. Earlier Works on Jewish LawSelden's approach to Jewish LawDe Successionibus in Bona DefunctiFeatures of the 1636 editionDe Successione in Pontificatum14. De Iure
NaturaliOrigin of the bookTitle and PrefaceBook IBooks II-VIICritiques of De Iure Naturali15. The Long Parliament and the Promotion of ScholarshipSelden in the Long ParliamentReligion and the Westminster AssemblyThe UniversitiesLibrariesAid to scholars and promotion of scholarshipTable Talk16. Arabic StudiesHelpers and aids to studyBiblical and Christian religious worksEutychiusThe KoranOther Arabic worksPrinting in ArabicSelden's contribution to Arabic studies17. Karaite Influences: De Anno Civili & Uxor EbraicaDe Anno CiviliUxor Abraica18. De SynedriisDe Synedriis IDe Synedriis IIDe
Synedriis IIICritiques of De Synedriis19. Death and LegacyDeathbed scenesFuneral and TombSelden's WillThe fate of Selden's library20. Selden in the History of ScholarshipParadigms of scholarship: Selden and UssherPurpose of scholarshipMethodologyRelations with other scholarsSelden's influenceAppendicesA. Selden's "autobiography"B. Legal TextsC. Trinoda NecessitasD. The 'third edition' of De Diis SyrisE. Selden's letter to Taylor on oriental studiesF. Capistrum IudaeorumG. The "Selden" emendations of Dio Chrysostom

John Selden

A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Author Information

G.J. Toomer was educated in England and the United States, and taught as a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and Professor of the History of Mathematics at Brown University. For many years his scholarly efforts were concentrated on the history of mathematics and astronomy. In these fields, he published what has become the standard translation of the most important ancient astromnomical treatise ( Ptolemy's Almagest, 1984), and the first edition of the Arabic version of the standard work on Conics in antiquity (lost in the original Greek: Apollonius Conics Books V to Vii, 1990). Since retiring he has devoted himself to the intellectual history of early modern Europe, especially 17-th century England, in which he has published an account of the study of Arabic
(Eastern Wisedome and Learning, OUP 1996).

John Selden

A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Reviews and Awards

"Toomer's survey of Selden's extraordinary scholarly vocation is one of the most important books on seventeenth-century England to come along in years...Its thorough and deeply learned synopses of Selden's works are invaluable treasures for future scholars working on early modern Europe." --Milton Quarterly